Commonwealth v. Holland

OPINION OF THE COURT

FLAHERTY, Justice.

On June 12, 1985, in a trial by jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, the appellant, William Holland, was found guilty of burglary, robbery, attempted deviate sexual intercourse, and murder of the first degree. In connection with the murder conviction, a separate sentencing hearing was held, as required by 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9711, and appellant was sentenced to death. The instant direct appeal ensued.

I. BACKGROUND

The incident from which the convictions arose was one in which a seventy-one year old woman was viciously assaulted by a burglar in her…